USO vs. AUDUSD=X

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

USO (United States Oil Fund LP) is Oil & Gas fund tracking the Front Month Light Sweet Crude Oil, while AUDUSD=X (AUD/USD) is a currency. Over the past 10 years, USO returned 3.13%/yr vs -0.57%/yr for AUDUSD=X. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in United States Oil Fund LP (USO) and AUD/USD (AUDUSD=X). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, USO achieves a 92.34% return, which is significantly higher than AUDUSD=X's 5.47% return. Over the past 10 years, USO has outperformed AUDUSD=X with an annualized return of 3.13%, while AUDUSD=X has yielded a comparatively lower -0.57% annualized return.

USO

• 1D: -2.72%
• 1M: -0.69%
• YTD: 92.34%
• 6M: 84.96%
• 1Y: 90.22%
• 3Y*: 27.76%
• 5Y*: 22.99%
• 10Y*: 3.13%

AUDUSD=X

• 1D: -1.33%
• 1M: -2.74%
• YTD: 5.47%
• 6M: 6.02%
• 1Y: 8.20%
• 3Y*: 1.80%
• 5Y*: -1.88%
• 10Y*: -0.57%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
USO United States Oil Fund LP	92.34%	-8.46%	13.35%	-4.94%	28.97%	64.68%	-67.79%	32.61%	-19.57%	2.47%
AUDUSD=X AUD/USD	5.47%	7.81%	-9.12%	-0.06%	-6.27%	-5.58%	9.75%	-0.37%	-9.73%	8.36%

Correlation

The correlation between USO and AUDUSD=X is -0.19, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.19
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.02
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.14
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.17
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 3, 2007	0.29

The correlation between USO and AUDUSD=X shifts across timeframes, from -0.19 (1 year) to 0.29 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

USO vs. AUDUSD=X — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

USO

USO Risk / Return Rank: 63
USO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 62
USO Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
USO Omega Ratio Rank: 58
USO Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
USO Martin Ratio Rank: 51

AUDUSD=X

AUDUSD=X Risk / Return Rank: 79
AUDUSD=X Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
AUDUSD=X Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
AUDUSD=X Omega Ratio Rank: 75
AUDUSD=X Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
AUDUSD=X Martin Ratio Rank: 85

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for United States Oil Fund LP (USO) and AUD/USD (AUDUSD=X). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	USO	AUDUSD=X	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.04	0.86	+1.18
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.66	1.26	+1.40
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.15	+0.20
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.45	1.56	+2.89
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.33	4.16	+4.17
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current USO Sharpe Ratio is 2.04, which is higher than the AUDUSD=X Sharpe Ratio of 0.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of USO and AUDUSD=X, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	USO	AUDUSD=X	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.04	0.86	+1.18
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.64	-0.17	+0.81
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.08	-0.06	+0.14
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.18	-0.08	-0.10

Drawdowns

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum USO drawdown since its inception was -98.19%, which is greater than AUDUSD=X's maximum drawdown of -47.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USO and AUDUSD=X.

Drawdown Indicators

	USO	AUDUSD=X	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-98.19%	-47.87%	-50.32%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-20.39%	-4.20%	-16.19%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-26.05%	-13.83%	-12.22%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-36.23%	-23.18%	-13.05%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-86.75%	-29.18%	-57.57%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-85.85%	-36.11%	-49.74%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-75.30%	-25.83%	-49.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	10.87%	1.62%	+9.25%

Volatility

USO vs. AUDUSD=X - Volatility Comparison

United States Oil Fund LP (USO) has a higher volatility of 13.30% compared to AUD/USD (AUDUSD=X) at 2.44%. This indicates that USO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AUDUSD=X based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	USO	AUDUSD=X	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.30%	2.44%	+10.86%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	38.49%	6.62%	+31.87%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	44.41%	7.62%	+36.79%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	36.09%	10.08%	+26.01%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	39.01%	9.67%	+29.34%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both USO and AUDUSD=X in my portfolio?

USO and AUDUSD=X have a correlation of -0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, USO or AUDUSD=X?

USO has higher volatility (13.30%) compared to AUDUSD=X (2.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USO dropped -98.19% vs AUDUSD=X's -47.87%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

USO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 0.86), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.